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Bamboo items a big draw

Olympia Shilpa Gerald
North East artisans exhibit craftsmanship at handloom fair
— Photo: M.Moorthy

brisk business: Visitors at the crafts fair organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development in Tiruchi.
TIRUCHI: Artisans from the seven sisters of North East India are in town to entice denizens with the brilliance of their craftsmanship. The North East Crafts Fair organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited is a testimony to the excellence of the craftsmen, especially their wonders wrought from cane and bamboo.
The highlight of the fair according to D.Ravi, exhibition-in-charge, is the intricate cane and bamboo furniture which occupies a considerable portion of the display. The ambit includes julas, garden chairs, modas and a knitting sofa set wrought in bamboo priced at Rs.30,000. Placed strategically are the charming dried- flowers and leaves from Nagaland, starting from Rs.10 per stalk.
Assam with the lion's share of the display has jute bags, pencil holders, hair clips, key chains, bangles and exquisitely woven shawls paraded in neatly-laid stalls. From Tripura are brightly-dyed bamboo blinds, bamboo root carvings and fan-shaped wall hangings. Bamboo flower vases and pot stands twisted into attractive shapes from Arunachal Pradesh add to the appeal.
While fine Manipur silk and cotton shawls are appealing, tiffin boxes and lamp shades fashioned from bamboo bark from Meghalaya niftily combine aesthetics with utility.
Though the North-East holds its own, other states make their presence felt in the form of cushion covers and wall hangings embellished with kantha work and chikan work from Gujarat, flamboyant bags with banjara mirror work from Andhra Pradesh, wooden toys from Karnataka, kalchatti utensils from Namakkal, gorgeous Benaras silk saris and Jaipur khadi cotton shirts for men.
Notable among the wares from across India are the artistic paper lamp shades embossed with dried flowers, arresting pink Austrian crystal chains, Bandhani saris and chudidhar materials priced from Rs. 650, oxidised silver jewellery and semi-precious stones from Jaipur and striking powdered sea-shell paintings on palm –leaf from Orissa.
An exclusive section houses fine, snug carpets from Uttar Pradesh with Persian and Moghul designs, priced between Rs.2,800 to 18,000. Jewellery divested with a quirk comes in the form of buffalo horn and camel bone jewellery starting at Rs.50.
A discount of 10 per cent on handicrafts and 20 per cent on handlooms is offered. The North East Crafts Fair is at Makkal Mandram till August 22 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Olympia Shilpa Gerald
North East artisans exhibit craftsmanship at handloom fair
— Photo: M.Moorthy

brisk business: Visitors at the crafts fair organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development in Tiruchi.
TIRUCHI: Artisans from the seven sisters of North East India are in town to entice denizens with the brilliance of their craftsmanship. The North East Crafts Fair organised by the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited is a testimony to the excellence of the craftsmen, especially their wonders wrought from cane and bamboo.
The highlight of the fair according to D.Ravi, exhibition-in-charge, is the intricate cane and bamboo furniture which occupies a considerable portion of the display. The ambit includes julas, garden chairs, modas and a knitting sofa set wrought in bamboo priced at Rs.30,000. Placed strategically are the charming dried- flowers and leaves from Nagaland, starting from Rs.10 per stalk.
Assam with the lion's share of the display has jute bags, pencil holders, hair clips, key chains, bangles and exquisitely woven shawls paraded in neatly-laid stalls. From Tripura are brightly-dyed bamboo blinds, bamboo root carvings and fan-shaped wall hangings. Bamboo flower vases and pot stands twisted into attractive shapes from Arunachal Pradesh add to the appeal.
While fine Manipur silk and cotton shawls are appealing, tiffin boxes and lamp shades fashioned from bamboo bark from Meghalaya niftily combine aesthetics with utility.
Though the North-East holds its own, other states make their presence felt in the form of cushion covers and wall hangings embellished with kantha work and chikan work from Gujarat, flamboyant bags with banjara mirror work from Andhra Pradesh, wooden toys from Karnataka, kalchatti utensils from Namakkal, gorgeous Benaras silk saris and Jaipur khadi cotton shirts for men.
Notable among the wares from across India are the artistic paper lamp shades embossed with dried flowers, arresting pink Austrian crystal chains, Bandhani saris and chudidhar materials priced from Rs. 650, oxidised silver jewellery and semi-precious stones from Jaipur and striking powdered sea-shell paintings on palm –leaf from Orissa.
An exclusive section houses fine, snug carpets from Uttar Pradesh with Persian and Moghul designs, priced between Rs.2,800 to 18,000. Jewellery divested with a quirk comes in the form of buffalo horn and camel bone jewellery starting at Rs.50.
A discount of 10 per cent on handicrafts and 20 per cent on handlooms is offered. The North East Crafts Fair is at Makkal Mandram till August 22 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.